Sunday, July 27, 2008

Travel Day: Dehradun to Chandigarh

I got up early and was the first one at breakfast (I guess everyone was tired from the party, which Alex and I only made an appearance at). It was dosas, and I thought it was good, but then again, I haven’t had much problem with the WII food like everyone else does.

The next morning, I ordered a car to the ISBT and Alex and Molly came along for the ride, since they were going to Rishikesh. It was really nice to have them there. Just having someone there seems to make it all go smoother. At least you know you have someone to talk to if everything goes wrong. But everything went right, I was on the right bus, for half as much as the car cost me (150 v. 300). It was a long ride, with two stops, and I was as usual covered in dust by the time we arrived. Also, wet from the rain that happened during hour 4. I had the worst seatmate in history, asleep and spreading out the whole time.

When we got off, I called Mr. R.B. of the BBMB because he seemed eager to help. I had been calling him during the trip, and he told me he lives near the Chandigarh ISBT (sector 43), and even offered to come get me if I could wait a while. I told him it was a really nice offer, but as I was surrounded by rickshaw drivers, I would just go with one of them to the University Guest House, although I hadn’t been able to get in touch with them successfully. Maybe it was for the best that my cycle rickshaw driver hijacked me and took me to what must be Chandigarh’s most ghetto hotel (sector 42). I really had to be OK with the roaches just running around willy nilly. I HAD to. After I got there, I mentioned this to Mr. R.B., and he came right over to argue with them. I told him it was OK, but then sat down and talked with him a while. He decided to take me to meet his family, and then on a driving tour of the city. So, despite inauspicious beginnings. Chandigarh was starting to be my favorite city I’d visited yet.

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